Fossils are collected straight in the brook, so some special supplies are required.

﻿Screening box: Basically, a frame with a screen attached to it, allowing you to strain for fossils. You can build your own, or just grab a large household strainer.

Trowel: You'll need a trowel to scoop gravel into the screening box. Any regular garden trowel will do.

Milk crate: You'll also need something to sit on if you're collecting in the brook, unless you want a wet bottom. Milk crates work best (as you can carry all your supplies in it later), but any sturdy box will do. Stools should probably not be used, as the river bottom is uneven.

Specimen containers: Something to hold your finds should be brought. As most Big Brook fossils are small, film jars, plastic containers, and Ziploc bags work well. Glass containers shouldn't be used, they break easily.

Clothing: Certain types of clothing are best for the area. It all gets soaked eventually, but jeans are best for avoiding thorns or other obstacles. Jeans also dry out quickly, which is much relief for the wet collector. Bare feet or sandals aren't a good idea, there can be unpleasant shards of glass in the stream. Old sneakers or boots are best, or hip waders if you can find some for a reasonable price. As summer is the best time to collect, the final piece of attire is the hat---it keeps you from getting sunburned and looks good on all paleontologists.

Other: Dry socks and shoes will be beneficial on the ride home, as well as towels to dry off. The height of fossil collecting season is also the height of bug season. Bring insect repellent to ward off mosquitos and ticks. If you expect to be collecting the whole day, a pack with lunch and snacks can be of use, as long as it stays out of the water.

Common sense: Safety is crucial. There are some bits of glass in the stream, so watch where you put your feet and fingers. Bring some Band-Aids and Neosporin just in case. You have to park on the road to get to the brook, so watch for other cars. Unless you have to answer the call of nature and go somewhere away from the brook, stay out of the woods, as the banks can be unstable and ticks are prevelant. And if it starts raining, leave---the river rises quite quickly and you can be underwater before you know it.

Some areas on the side of the brook are private property, so please do not walk into these areas (they are posted as such).

If you find only one type of fossil at Big Brook, these will most likely be it.

Scapanorynchus texanus

Scapanorynchus is a type of goblin shark. It grew to around 3 to 5 meters long. They are often longer than teeth of other shark species. Many times the tooth tips are worn off and can be mistaken for other shark teeth.

Rarity: Very common. Scapanorynchus's teeth are the most common vertebrate fossil at Big Brook.

Squalicorax pristodontus

This is one of the two Squalicorax species, the crow sharks, at the brook. S. pristodontus likely grew to around 3 meters or so. The genus's teeth are very distinctive, being short and wide.

Rarity: Very common.

Squalicorax kaupi

The second of the crow shark species. They are similar to S. pristodontus except smaller.

Very few dinosaurs are found in Big Brook. If dinosaur material is found, it is best to call the New Jersey State Museum for assistance, who may even let you dig the bones out with them.

Hadrosauroid

Some hadrosauroid bones have been found here, mostly skull fragments and leg bone fragments. Probable candidates for identity are Hadrosaurus and Edmontosaurus.

Rarity: Very uncommon.

Dryptosaurus aqualunguis

Dryptosaurus is a relative of Tyrannosaurus, unique to the state! It grew to 6 meters or more. Toe bones, teeth, and claws have been found.

Rarity: The rarest of the rare.

Other dinosaurs

Some dinosaur material from the brook has been assigned to genuses such as Ornithomimus (sometimes Coelosaurus) and Nodosaurus. Only one or two scrappy fragments have been found, so these will not be covered.

Very occasionally, artifacts from humans can be found in the brook. While not strictly fossils, these finds are often unexpected and can be a great surprise to find.

Arrowheads

Archaic arrowheads are found, but not very often.

Rarity: Uncommon.

Bottles

Bottles from colonial times have been found in the brook.

Rarity: Uncommon.

Pennies

Once, a vintage penny has been found in the brook, dated 1826. Only one has been found, and it is unlikely more will ever be uncovered---but it is an interesting find, so just be aware of the possibility.

There are ironstone concretions in the brook that look like several types of fossils such as crocodile teeth, dinosaur toe bones, and others, so watch out for them, as they can get annoying. Usually if you are uncertain whether or not an object is a concretion, it is usually best to take it to an expert for identification.